Naples – A traffic chaos "at the limit of sustainability" paralyzed Naples today, during the international marathon, leaving tourists and citizens trapped in traffic and taxi drivers on the brink of protest.
In an open letter sent to Prefect Michele Di Bari, the main taxi industry unions denounced the "inadequate" management of the event, accusing Mobility Councillor Gaetano Cosenza of a lack of sensitivity towards urban mobility.
The strike called for October 23 remains in place: "We won't be fooled by last-minute meetings." The running event, which saw thousands of athletes dart through the streets of the historic center, transformed the city into a hellish labyrinth. Streets closed to ensure safety and smooth flow of the race—from Piazza del Plebiscito to Via Caracciolo—overlooked construction sites already underway for urban redevelopment, such as those in Piazza Plebiscito and Via Toledo.
The result? Travel times tripled to key hubs: Central Station, the Port, and Capodichino Airport. "Numerous customers arrived at the last minute," write the unions, including Fast Confsal-Federtaxi Cisal, Sitan/Atn Orsa Taxi, Tassisti di Base, Confail, Ugl Unimpresa, UriTaxi, and Uti/Consortaxi.
"Disoriented tourists, families with luggage stuck in queues for hours: an incalculable damage to Naples' image." This isn't the first time. The letter, signed by a united front of organizations representing thousands of licenses, links the incident to "systematic inadequate management" of events in the city.
"Organizing a marathon in an already congested city was a grave mistake," the representatives thundered, pointing the finger at Councilor Cosenza: "He has once again demonstrated a lack of attention to mobility needs and the daily difficulties of operators."
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Taxi drivers, who provide an essential service to Naples' booming tourism—over 5 million visitors annually—bemoan immediate economic losses: canceled rides, inefficient mandatory routes, and the constant risk of losing passengers to illegal taxis, which, according to ANSA estimates, erodes 20-25% of the regular market.
The protest isn't just a corporate one: "Our action is aimed at protecting Neapolitan citizens and tourists, ensuring efficient, regular, and regulatory-compliant mobility," the document states. Rejecting the council's invitation to a summit on October 22nd—perceived as an "attempt to call off the protest at the last minute, as in the past"—the unions are calling for structural reforms.
At the heart of the requests: an interinstitutional task force for anti-chaos protocols during events, real-time traffic monitoring with geolocalized apps, and anti-illegal traffic measures with joint police and municipal inspectors. Regulatory references abound, from the Highway Code (Legislative Decree 285/1992) to the Taxi Service Act (298/1974), to EU Regulation 181/2011 on passenger rights. The Prefect of Bari, the recipient of the letter, could play a key role as a mediator between the Municipality, the Region, and the industry.
Naples, a hub of tourism and logistics, cannot afford any more setbacks: the marathon, despite being a sporting success with participants from 50 nations, risks leaving a bitter aftertaste on social media, where complaints from runners and visitors are already pouring in. "Roads, traffic planning, and legality: for efficient and safe public transport," reads the letter's final slogan, a warning echoing taxi drivers' historic battles against urban decay.
Meanwhile, the city is catching its breath after the lockdown. But with the strike looming, the countdown has begun: will an institutional shift be enough to avoid the shutdown? Or will Naples repeat the post-emergency "anything goes" scenario? The ball is in the Prefect's court—and the City Council's.
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